By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

ALMOST but not quite.
Marianas High School had a good chance to hand Saipan Southern High School its first loss in the boys’ division of the MISA High School Basketball League, but blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost steam in overtime helping the Manta Rays notch a 91-76 triumph last Friday at the MHS Gym.
The victory improved Southern’s record to 4-0 gaining its second win over MHS after prevailing in the first meeting, 84-63. The loss ended the Dolphins’ two-game winning streak and dropped them to a 2-2 slate.
Determined to bounce back from a disappointing 21-point loss to the Rays in their debut match, the Dolphins, after trailing by seven in the first quarter, 12-17, took control of the game from the second until the fourth quarter before collapsing in the last five minutes of the regulation.
With Kevin Aldan hitting two triples in the second period, MHS went to the locker room with a 33-30 halftime lead. The Dolphins kept the driver’s seat entering the payoff canto, 51-48, as Gary Phillip took over the scoring chores in the third quarter hitting six points.
The Dolphins got their fans up on their seats, as they posted their biggest lead in the game at 12-points, 65-53, after an alley-oop basket from Ivan Devero off an Aldan feed, with 4:53 remaining in regulation.
Despite being down up 12 points, Southern did not panic and coach Joel Punzalan refused to call a timeout, letting his players decide for themselves.
The Rays made good decisions, as they launched a backcourt pressured defense, hustled for the ball and aggressively attacked the basket.
With a good defense, Southern found it easy to score drilling an 11-0 run to move within one, 64-65, with 1:24 left on the clock.
The two teams traded misses in the succeeding plays and in the last 35 seconds in regulation, coach Nick Gross had seen enough and sued for time to bring order back to MHS.
After the timeout, Zach Tudela inbounded the ball a few steps away from their bench. He made a pass to Aldan, but Basa stole it and the Southern sniper rushed to their frontcourt and drilled a layup to put the Rays on top for the first time since the opening quarter, 66-65, with 29.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
The Rays celebrated Basa’s basket early and failed to go back on defense letting Jayvan Tarkong escape with a layup, which helped the Dolphins regain the lead, 67-66.
Basa was fouled in the ensuing play, as he ran through the defense of Tarkong. He split his charities to tie the game at 67-all, with 14.3 seconds left on the clock.
Tarkong had the chance to score the winning basket, but missed his fadeway jumper on the right baseline. There was a battle for the loose ball and the clock expired with neither team having clear possession.
MHS scored the first two points in overtime on Aldan and De Vero’s split charities, but that was the last time the Dolphins had the lead. They scored only two fieldgoals in the remaining minutes of the extension period and committed a lot of turnovers. The hosts also lost key players due to five fouls. Tarkong, Cruz and De Vero fouled out midway in OT, while guard Jomar Tumaquip was thrown out of the game in the opening minutes of the third period due to two technical fouls.
Ernest Duenas and Bill Babauta combined for 11 of Southern’ 24 points in overtime to steal the win. Mike Eclevia also had his share in the Rays’ overtime win, as he had a couple of defensive stops.
“Hats off to MHS, they really showed that they want to win. But I am proud of my boys because they showed character. They proved something in this win. They can handle the pressure and are ready for the playoffs,” Punzalan said.
Scores:
SSHS 91—Basa 19, Babauta 18, Duenas 14, Eclevia 10, Tilipao 10, Taitano 7, Rogolifoi 6, Beltau 4, Masga 2, Diaz 1.
MHS 76 — De Vero 17, Aldan 13, Phillip 15, Tarkong 12, Tumaquip 8, Tudela 6, Cruz 3, Taitano 2.
Quarterscores: 19-12, 30-33, 48-51, 67-all, 91-76